Rachel Winsten, K-12 Health Education, Physical Education, Driver’s Ed and the Junior ROTC with Brevard Public Schools in Florida, joins to discuss mental health education and programming in diverse districts, the importance of representation, empowerment and collaboration.
About Rachel
Rachel Winsten has been a health and physical education teacher for over 20 years. She received her undergraduate degree from SUNY Cortland and her Masters in Education from Hofstra University. Rachel’s career began teaching physical education and health at a large comprehensive high school in Queens. In 2012 she moved to Florida and became the district resource teacher (curriculum/content specialist) for K-12 health education, physical education, driver ed and JROTC for Brevard Public Schools. Rachel is an active member of SHAPE Florida where she currently serves at the VP for the Health & General Division. She is also an active member of SHAPE America and serves at the co-chair for the State and District Leaders Special Interest Group. Rachel currently lives in Viera, Florida with her husband, two teenage sons and two rescue dogs.Brevard Public Schools is the 49th largest district in the U.S. and the 9th largest district in Florida. BPS serves over 73,000 students annually. With 83 schools, 10 special centers, and 12 charter schools, the district educates its students in 17 different municipalities across the Space Coast. Brevard Public School’s goal is to serve our community and enhance students’ lives by delivering the highest quality education in a culture of dedication, collaboration and learning. About Erika’s Lighthouse
We are a not-for-profit dedicated to educating and raising awareness about adolescent depression, encouraging good mental health and breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health issues. Our vision is to make sure no young person feels alone in their depression. To become the leading provider of teen depression awareness programs and resources in middle school and high school communities. Our free programs support inclusive school cultures through classroom education, teen empowerment, family engagement and staff development. Learn more at Erika’s Lighthouse.org.